Scientists are gaining new insights into why mosquitoes appear to target certain people while largely ignoring others, revealing that body odour, heat and even lifestyle habits may play a bigger role than previously understood.
According to researchers, the long-held belief that some people are “mosquito magnets” is not a myth. However, experts say mosquito attraction is influenced by a complex combination of biological and environmental factors rather than simple characteristics such as blood type or appearance.
Medical entomologist Frederic Simard of France’s Institute of Research for Development explained that mosquitoes are naturally drawn to some individuals more than others, although a person’s attractiveness to the insects can vary over time.
Scientists have known for more than a century that mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide released during breathing. This serves as the first signal that helps female mosquitoes locate potential hosts from long distances.
Once they move closer, mosquitoes begin detecting body odours produced by humans. These scents, combined with carbon dioxide, help the insects determine which individuals are most attractive targets.
Researchers say body temperature and moisture levels also become important factors as mosquitoes approach their hosts.
Contrary to popular belief, experts found little scientific evidence to support claims that mosquitoes prefer certain blood groups or are attracted to specific eye, skin or hair colours.
Instead, body odour appears to be one of the strongest influences.
Scientists explain that humans release hundreds of chemical compounds through the skin, many of which are produced by bacteria and microorganisms that naturally live on the body. These compounds create unique scent profiles that can either attract or repel mosquitoes.
In a recent laboratory study involving 42 women, researchers examined how Aedes aegypti mosquitoes the species responsible for spreading diseases such as yellow fever and dengue fever responded to different human odours.
The study identified 27 chemical compounds that mosquitoes can detect when selecting a host.
Researchers found that the individuals most attractive to mosquitoes produced higher levels of a compound known as 1-octen-3-ol, sometimes referred to as “mushroom alcohol,” which is generated through the breakdown of oils on the skin.
Even slight increases in the concentration of this compound appeared to significantly influence mosquito behaviour.
Scientists also noted that pregnancy may increase mosquito attraction, as pregnant women were among those who attracted the highest number of mosquitoes during the study.
Beyond body chemistry, lifestyle choices can also affect mosquito attraction.
Several studies have linked alcohol consumption, particularly beer, to an increased likelihood of mosquito bites. Researchers believe this may be because alcohol raises body temperature, alters skin odours and increases the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled.
In one study conducted in Burkina Faso, mosquitoes showed a stronger preference for volunteers after they consumed beer compared to when they drank water.
Similarly, a 2023 study in the Netherlands found that participants who had consumed beer within the previous 24 hours were significantly more attractive to female malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
The findings have gained greater importance as climate change contributes to the spread of mosquito species into new regions around the world, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
Experts recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing that covers exposed skin, sleeping under mosquito nets and using insect repellents to reduce the risk of bites.
They also suggest limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding factors that may increase body heat when spending time in mosquito-prone environments.
As scientists continue to investigate the biological signals that attract mosquitoes, researchers hope the findings could eventually lead to more effective methods of preventing bites and reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide.
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